Monday, February 28, 2011

Hands covered in blood, I rinsed my hands in cold water at the farmhouse.Luke says that cold water is best when trying to wash off blood.The day had been really messy! There was blood everywhere, on my jeans and shirt, Emily even had a little on her face.

All things considered though, we were nowhere nearly as bloody as the calves we had just got done castrating.

This gets messy real fast!Luke had demonstrated the process and now it was my turn.I took his pocketknife and proceeded cutting open the scrotum.The knife was dull and I was inexperienced.The calf jerked around trying to escape. Feeling uneasy about this whole situation, I finally cut the complete tip of the scrotum off. Finding the testicles is the next step. The testicles sucks back up into their bodies as if they know what is about to happen next.Squeezing the testicles out is hard, but what happens next is even harder. I stretch the first testicle out and start scrapping at the spermatic cord with the pocketknife until it breaks free! I repeat the process on the second one. Blood is everywhere!!! The poor calf looked like a wet dog showered in blood, all mangy and rough looking.(This is a bit exaggerated as you can see in the pictures.It’s more like a reflection of my perception and feelings in that moment.)

Saturday, February 26, 2011

I woke up with horror this morning! I heard voices in the kitchen. I remembered a story about Ben Schnell sleeping in at the Fisher’s house.Apparently, he slept in till noon, no one woke him up, but everyone wondered, “Where is Ben? Is he sick?”

The Fishers get up early and if you sleep in you miss half the experience.Thinking that I might have missed breakfast or even worst, they might be leaving for church, I jumped out of bed! To my relief it was only Deb and the twins, no one was dressed for church and no one had even come close to eating.

Anna and Madeline named a cow Bone Face. To their surprise they discovered later that Bone Face is actually a girl!

I admire the Fishers.Everyone in their family has such sense of duty.They are so hospitable and mission minded.

Today, in church this guy named Buddy Baker, who is probably about 80 years old, got up in front of the church family and told some jokes. He was hilarious! The Bristow Church is just like the Fisher family only bigger.

In the car, Emily cries, “I am having a caffeine with withdraw!”She then proceeds to drink her day old coffee, like its no big deal?

At dinner, Emily and Luke where talking about Chad. Engaged in the conversation, Mrs. Fisher says, “I think that a girl from Union went to Chad? What was her name? Janna, Janna Buttrick, do you know her?” I reply, “yes, I know her.” Emily, burst into laughter! No one else at the table makes the connection and no one ask. We continue eating.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

I quite my job today and then tried to burn my apron in the parking lot.

To ensure that the apron would catch on fire, Emily and I stopped at the gas station, dosing the apron with gasoline. Arson is a lot harder then it looks! I think that maybe the apron was flame retardant?

It didn't work, so we went to my parents house to get more gasoline and another lighter. It was hard and cold. My attempts were failing. Emily was nervous. In desperation, I continue flicking at the lighter. The fames ignite! I feel the flames on my hand. Emily is screaming, "they are writing down my license plate!" I jump in the car, thinking well then we need to get out of here! Unsatisfied with my response, Emily shrills, "what are you doing? Put the fire out!"

February 24th, 2011 will be my last day of employment at The Home Depot.

"Live Free or Die"

Associate 12734497

Of course there was a little more to it, but you get the idea. I thought that it was humorous but my manger didn't laugh one bit. He suggested that I amend the letter to say that I would like a job when I return.

Tomorrow morning, I will be joining Emily Wilkens on her book tour, African Rice Heart! We will be traveling all across the country visiting academies, universities, and churches to share the book with them.

Read the book! Share the book with your friends! And most certainly, my favorite of the three, quote the book!

I am happy but gloomy. I am afraid to let go, but excited to move on. There is a feeling of anxiety mixed with hope and joy in my heart. I have enjoyed security and comfort and now I must trade them in for growth and life.

This last month, I went to the doctor, had my eyes examined, got new glasses, had my teeth cleaned, and had a complete blood profile done. Good news is I am pretty healthy, bad news is that I am trading my health insurance in for a first aid kit.

Friday, February 18, 2011

“To trifle with hearts is a crime of no small magnitude in the sight of a holy God. And yet some will show preference for young ladies and call out their affections, and then go their own way and forget all about the words they have spoken and their effect. A new face attracts them, and they repeat the same words, devote to another the same attentions.

This disposition will reveal itself in the married life. The marriage relation does not always make the fickle mind firm, the wavering steadfast and true to principle. They tire of constancy, and unholy thoughts will manifest themselves in unholy actions. How essential it is, then, that the youth so gird up the loins of their mind and guard their conduct that Satan cannot beguile them from the path of uprightness.”

Sunday, February 6, 2011

This last year, I estimate that I spend $2,260.18 on gas, $1,876.76 on dinning out, $616.64 on airline tickets, hotels, and entertainment and $5,096.94 on assorted merchandise. Over all I spend an estimated $19,246.56 in 2010. That leaves about $9,396.08 in miscellaneous expenses, which would include rent, house flipping expenses, and other ambiguous items.

About Me

I am a rugged individual. I can grow a beard in a week, file my own taxes, and operate a demo saw. I am a rugged individual but I desire to be more then just a rugged individual, I desire to be servant of God. I want to be lead by his commandments and teachings. I want to have integrity in my personal and public life. I want to be committed to marriage, family, and the community i live in. I want to be a man, a rugged man, that will stand for the right though the heavens fall.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain